Evaluación del contenido proteico del raquis de la palma africana (Elaeis guineensis) utilizando Aspergillus niger

Abstract

The rachis of the African palm (Elaeis guineensis) is considered one of the most difficult by products to handle in oil extractors, as it is a solid material that causes environmental pollution; however, with biotechnological advances, this residue can be used to give it value added. That is why in the present work a protein increase of the rachis of E. guineensis was carried out, for which a physicochemical characterization of the substrate was made, determining pH, moisture percentage and protein concentration. In addition, the Aspergillus niger fungus was isolated from organic lemon residues, which was characterized macroscopically and microscopically to later use it in solid state fermentation. In the investigation, four media were formulated using a 2 to 2 factorial design, where it was determined that the concentration of the inoculum (5000 and 50 000 conidia per gram at least 1 of media) and the fermentation time (8 and 12 days) significantly influence the protein enrichment of E. guinnensis, being the medium with a concentration of 50 000 conidia per gram at least 1 and 8 days of fermentation the one that reached optimum values of 15,48 mg per mL at least 1 in the protein concentration and 1,20 g per mL at least 1 for the biomass concentration. Finally, the kinetic parameters of A. niger were determined to know its behavior, obtaining a specific growth rate of 0,13 hours at least 1 and a doubling time of 5,35 hours.